Speedway: Lawson a doubt for derby clash

The Newcastle KBS Diamonds are waiting to see if teenage reserve William Lawson recovers from a virus in time for tonight's Premier League derby against the Berwick 3tmobile.net Bandits at Brough Park (7.30).

The Newcastle KBS Diamonds are waiting to see if teenage reserve William Lawson recovers from a virus in time for tonight's Premier League derby against the Berwick 3tmobile.net Bandits at Brough Park (7.30).

Newcastle manager George English has put Craig Branney on standby to partner Jamie Robertson at reserve if Lawson remains poorly.

English hopes a big match against his team's arch rivals will be the ideal way for the KBS Diamonds to show they can climb off the bottom of the league table and he was keeping up to date last night with news of Berwick's 53-37 defeat by Stoke.

English said: "Stoke have been struggling nearly as much as ourselves but they beat Berwick comfortably and we'd be delighted to add to the Bandits' misery."

Stuart Robson takes the job share rides this evening for Newcastle's Bjarne Pedersen has an Elite League for Poole at Wolverhampton and English is confident Robson's disappointing five points in the KBS Diamonds home defeat against Edinburgh a fortnight ago was a one-off.

It is the first time Berwick's Argentinian reserve Carlos Villar has raced at Brough.

He has built a lively reputation at several away tracks for his aggressive riding so he should provide plenty of excitement tonight.

* JAMIE Robertson successfully defended his title in yesterday's West Wales Selection Championship at Carmarthen despite finishing last in his opening ride.

The 16-year-old won his next four races to become the second highest qualifier on 12 points for the semi-finals in which his runner-up spot was enough to reach the final.

* FORMER Newcastle rider Nicki Pedersen enjoyed the second Grand Prix victory of his career when he won Saturday's British Grand Prix at Cardiff but he used a bit of brotherly help to eliminate the KBS Diamonds' Bjarne Pedersen halfway through the meeting.

Nicki and his older brother Ronni both qualified from heat 12 with Bjarne unable to find a way past them leaving Bjarne with only four Grand Prix points on the night and dropping him to 15th in the standings.